Former Liverpool and Holland striker Dirk Kuyt believes that Ireland will be beaten 2-1 when the sides play each other on Sunday night in Dublin.
Both sides had contrasting games on Thursday night. Ireland traveled to Paris to play Group B leaders France. Stephen Kenny's men were soundly beaten 2-0 thanks to goals from Aurélien Tchouaméni and Marcus Thuram in the Parc des Princes. While the Netherlands produced their best display of the qualifiers by hammering Greece 3-0 in Eindhoven.
The defeat for Ireland means that they welcome the Dutch to Dublin with little room for error. Any chance of making it to Euro 2024 has become even harder with the result in Paris.
The two teams have met each other 21 times, with Ireland winning only a third of those games and losing 11. The last game between the sides was a 2016 friendly that ended 1-1.
FT | Plenty of effort but no reward as we fall to defeat in Paris.
We go again for a massive game in Dublin on Sunday 🇮🇪 pic.twitter.com/VnNJB30OZB— Ireland Football ⚽️🇮🇪 (@IrelandFootball) September 7, 2023
Kuyt, who played 104 times for his country, believes that Ronald Koeman's Dutch side will come out on top in the battle between the two. However, he is expecting a difficult contest when the sides kick off in the Aviva Stadium on Sunday night.
Speaking to BettingSites.co.uk, ex-Liverpool winger and Dutch international, Kuyt said: "The Netherlands are in a tough situation. The World Cup was not what we expected. We may be a small country, but we always expect a lot from our team. It didn't go the way we wanted, and then Louis van Gaal said goodbye, and Koeman came in and had a few tough games," he said.
"I think it's really important for the Dutch to win both games, but it's not so easy. It's a very important game for Holland to stand up, focus, and play the way they are able. Memphis Depay is injured, and they have an issue finding the right striker, but in my opinion, that man is Cody, but he's used to playing off the wing in the national team or just behind the striker. We have a few decisions to make, but the most important thing is we win!
"I hope Holland will win, but we always find it difficult to beat Ireland. I expect Holland to win 2-1."
Ireland's game against the Netherlands will kick off at 7:45 on Sunday night
